Next-generation, fuel-efficient stop-start system to make European cars greener
The i-StARS (Starter-alternator reversible system) project, which is funded through the European intergovernmental initiative Eureka, is driving ahead with cutting-edge technological advances that will bring European automobile manufacturers in line with new emissions legislation and establish their leadership in the 'green machine' market. Eureka, a pan-European network for market-orientated industrial R&D, has granted i-StARS EUR 9.85 million. The i-StARS researchers are busy developing a compact, fully integrated, low-cost, stop-start system for cars. They foresee that this system will eventually replace the existing conventional alternator in current-generation automobiles. This system will build on a first-generation system developed by one of the project partners which is already in place in a number of European cars. In a stop-start system, whenever the car idles, such as when it is stopped at a traffic light, the belt-driven, starter-alternator system shuts down the engine and restarts it quickly and silently on request. The benefit is that there is no fuel consumption, gas emission, vibration or noise during idling. According to experts, fuel consumption can be reduced by up to 6%; in congested urban traffic savings of up to 25% have been observed. 'Not only will it be possible to reduce consumption emissions without any major change to engine design, but this translates into a 6% savings in fuel use for the car driver,' says Derek de Bono, marketing director of project leader Valeo Electrical Systems in France. He explained that European funding was important to the project's success. 'Eureka labeling provided credibility at a national and European level,' he said. 'It is also enabling us to get the technology to market faster, speeding European access to cleaner technology and opening up global markets for our equipment.' In 2012, EU legislation will come into force which will see a reduction in the average C02 emissions for new cars from the current 160 g/km down to 130 g/km. This will lead to a 19% reduction in CO2 emissions and place the EU among the world leaders in fuel-efficient cars. The proposal will also be a boon to consumers as it will result in important fuel savings. The second-generation starter-alternator reversible system will enable European automobile manufacturers to not only meet these new restrictions but will also enable increased fuel efficiency without drastically redesigning the engine. But these benefits will not be restricted to European manufacturers. 'We are also talking to all the other car makers in Europe,' said Mr de Bono. 'And there is interest in Asia, particularly from China, which is keen to reduce energy needs, and in the USA to meet the 35-miles-per-gallon limit they committed to in 2007.' Market forecasts indicate that approximately one million vehicles a year will be using these systems by 2010, with a 4% penetration rate worldwide in the automotive market for such micro-hybrid applications in 2015. The aim of Eureka is to enhance European competitiveness by actively supporting businesses, research centres and universities carrying out pan-European projects to develop innovative products, processes and services. It offers project partners access to a knowledge bank of skills and expertise across Europe and facilitates access to national public- and private-funding schemes.